"Now that I am back home and unable to work due to my health, I plan to start livestock farming again. Unfortunately, the animals I previously acquired died because they didn’t receive the care they needed while I was away. Before diving into livestock farming, I want to focus on serious crop farming when the rains come. I intend to use a portion of my transfers for this purpose, aiming for good harvests that will sustain us until the next planting season, so we won’t have to rely on buying food. Once we have a stable food supply, I will redirect the money I was spending on food toward purchasing goats and turkeys. My hope is that these animals will multiply, providing me with a reliable source of income and resources in the future when this program comes to an end."

"Just before I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I felt overwhelmed by stress. My two children were in school, with arrears of $100 for high school and $180 for university, and I honestly didn’t know where I would get the money for their school fees. As a farmer, this year was particularly tough because I lost my two acres of maize to floods, and my husband’s salary was limited due to existing loans, which meant we had to rely solely on his income. With my first transfer, I was able to reduce their fees by $50 each. Additionally, I bought a plastic table for $18 and four plastic chairs for $34 because our area is hot, and we often sit outside in the shade during the day. My old plastic chairs were worn out, leaving me with only three, not enough for our family of six. Finally, I spent the remaining money on food essentials like sugar, rice, beans, cooking oil, and maize flour, as food was a major challenge after losing our crops. We had to rely solely on my husband’s salary, which could not sustain us. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for this support."

"Receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly was truly timely. It felt like a blessing from God. My daughter had been in the hospital for a week, and the doctors wanted us to transfer her to the county referral hospital, but I didn’t have the money for it. Thankfully, the cash transfer came just in time, and I spent $100 to cover her referral and hospital bill. I’m relieved to say that her surgery went well, and she has already been discharged and is recovering nicely. While I was in the hospital, my husband and four grandchildren had to take food items from the shop on credit since I was away, which resulted in a debt of $60 that I was able to clear. With the remaining $20, I covered transport for my granddaughter, who is now in primary school in another county. Her parents passed away, and she received a scholarship for her education, so I only have to manage her transport and minor expenses. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for your timely support!"

"The biggest difference in my life after receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly is the ability to purchase plastic chairs. Before, I only had one old and broken chair, and whenever visitors came, I had to borrow chairs from my neighbors. I still remember the day I heard that GiveDirectly officers were in our village for enrollment; I rushed to borrow chairs from my neighbor, feeling embarrassed each time. My prayer has always been to have enough chairs for my family and guests, and I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for making this a reality. Now, I can host visitors comfortably without worrying about borrowing, and it brings me so much joy."

"I am a farmer, and when I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to plant green grams and beans in my kitchen garden. I had many needs, but I knew that if I spent the money all at once, I would run out quickly, so I chose to think about tomorrow instead. I spent $50 on seeds, land preparation, and planting my beans and green grams because, with the success of these crops, we wouldn't have to worry about food in the future. Additionally, I bought an improved breed of male chicken for $10 because I only had female chickens, and this rooster would help with reproduction. I spent $20 on household items, such as cooking pots and utensils, and another $20 on food items like maize and sugar, as we had run out of stock at the time I received my transfer. Finally, I set aside $100 for my son, who is in college, to ensure he has fees for the next semester. His education is my priority, and seeing him in college is my pride as a mother."

"Last term, my three children in elementary school ended with arrears of $65 each, and honestly, I was overwhelmed by the thought of handling that alongside the upcoming term's fees. As a businesswoman, I relied solely on my second-hand clothing business to meet all our family's needs, including school fees, and I knew I would not manage to raise that amount. However, thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I lifted that heavy weight off my shoulders and reduced their arrears to $15 each. This support also boosted my business, increasing my sales significantly, which allowed me to clear the outstanding fees, including those for this term. Thank you, GiveDirectly; if it were not for your help, I honestly don’t know what I would have done."

"I am a businesswoman with a small kiosk, and my husband manages our crop farming. When I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, my kiosk was struggling due to low stock. I had started the business three years ago with a small inventory, but it had not grown quickly because we often relied on it for daily needs and dealt with unpaid debts. With the transfer, I used $100 to restock my shop with items like sugar, cereals, milk, and other essentials. Now, my customers can find almost everything they need, and my sales have increased from $50 to $80 a day, which has helped us cover other expenses like paying school fees for our son in boarding school. I also bought household items, including a table for $35, as the one we had was too small. Additionally, I bought clothes for my family of four worth $50, so we could all look presentable and celebrate the joy of the cash transfer. To keep our clothes organized, I purchased a suitcase for $15. Thank you, GiveDirectly!"

"While I was at my farm, away from home, my daughter called me around 3 PM while I was irrigating the crops. She excitedly told me, "Dad, the money from GiveDirectly has arrived!" I immediately instructed her to keep it safe until I returned in the evening so I could check it myself. Since she had my phone, I couldn’t see the amount right away. As I continued working, my mind was filled with thoughts about my daughter's school fees. I had been struggling to pay them, and she had been in and out of school because the arrears were too much for her teachers to tolerate. The news of the money gave me a glimmer of hope as I imagined how I could finally settle her fees."

"Receiving the cash transfer brought me a sense of relief during a time of stress. I had been worried about how to pay the rent for my son, who is studying at the university. Thankfully, I was able to send him $70 right away, ensuring he could focus on his studies without the burden of worrying about housing. Knowing he would have peace at school made me feel much better as a parent.Furthermore, I used $50 to buy medicine to spray my tomatoes on the farm, helping protect my crops from pests. I also spent $30 on weeding those tomatoes to ensure a good harvest. I wanted to support my daughter, who has a shop and provides food for our family, so I gave her $30 to restock her supplies. This way, she can continue to support us while managing her business.With the remaining $20, I harvested my maize, which resulted in an impressive yield of 5,444 kgs. I take pride in being a farmer, and with my wife at home caring for our large flock of livestock, we have managed to create a stable life for our family of eight. Although life can be challenging, I feel grateful for the assets we have, knowing they can help us during emergencies. The cash transfer has truly made a difference in our lives."

"While I was in town doing my grocery business, I received the money, and I couldn't contain my happiness. I immediately thanked God for helping me at a time when I felt so confused and worried about how to pay for my two children joining the university. Their school fees and other expenses were overwhelming, especially with my small business income. The moment I saw the money, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. I realized that I could finally cover their expenses without the stress that had been keeping me up at night. This support from GiveDirectly was truly a blessing, and I felt grateful for the help."